Gurjars in Kashmir or Kashmiri Gujjars, are an ethnic community native to the larger Kashmir region, which has been the subject of a dispute between India and Pakistan since 1947 and between India and China since 1959. They are descended from Gurjars who moved into this region during medieval times. They are mainly found in the Pakistan-administered Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan and Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh union territories. They are accounted as the largest ethnic group in Azad Kashmir, third-largest ethnic group in Jammu and Kashmir, and a minority ethnic group in Gilgit-Baltistan and Ladakh. They are scattered across almost all districts of the Kashmir region; they are densely populated in Poonch, Rajouri, Reasi, Ganderbal, Kishtwar, Ramban, Anantnag, Muzafarabad, Kotli, Hattian Bala, Haveli, Gilgit, Skardu, and Kargil, while Leh, Sudhanoti and Srinagar districts have the smallest Gujjar population. In Kashmir, they adopted Islam through the influence of Sufism between the 10th and 16th centuries.
Gujjars make up around 72% of the total tribal population and roughly 20 to 25% of Jammu and Kashmir's total population, While in Azad Kashmir, they make up 20% of the total population. As per the 1931 census of British India, they make up 3.21% of Gilgit-Baltistan's total population.
Gurjars and Bakarwals in Kashmir region speak their own language, Gujari, along with various regional languages. Gujari is the second most spoken language in Azad Kashmir and Jammu and Kashmir, and rank 6th or 7th in Gilgit-Baltistan. In Ladakh it is spoken by less than 1% of Ladakh's population.
Gurjars in Jammu and Kashmir are divided into three major groups: settled Gujjars (Zamindar/landlord), semi-settled Gujjars, and landless Gujjars. The landless or nomad Gujjars are further divided into subgroups: Bakarwal, Banjara and Dodhi Gujjars.
A 2024 field survey found that 97% of Gujjars in Jammu and Kashmir are now settled and ended their nomadic lifestyle. Over 30–40 years, they have settled in one place due to climate change, forest laws, and shepherding being not profitable. Only 3% are still nomadic, mainly in the Kashmir Valley.
Gurjar and Bakarwal in Kashmir are also known as 'natures's own children and Lords of the forest', due to their strong bond with nature and the forest.Socio-economic and Political Conditions of Gujjar and Bakerwals of Jammu and Kashmir (2018). By Riyaz Ahmad Bhat. Vikram University, Ujjain M.P. pp.39. In Indian-administrated Jammu and Kashmir, there are almost 150 clans or Gotras of Gurjars, out of a total around nine hundred Gurjar clans scattered across the Indian Sub-continent.
History The earliest mention of Gurjars in the Kashmir region is found in the Chamba Copper Plates, indicating they were present in the region as early as the 10th century. These Gurjars were Muslims, and it is likely that they had converted to Islam prior to migrating to this area of the Indian subcontinent.
Historian Niharranjan Ray said Gurjars of Kashmir are descendants of the Gurjaras and they likely came from north Punjab during the rule of Karkota dynasty in 627 - 795 AD, when Kashmir controlled parts of Punjab. Historian Uhlig said they moved from India's plains to Kashmir, where they got land after helping with irrigation.
Gurjars in Kashmir region came in two waves: some directly from Rajasthan, Gujarat and Kathiawar, while others came from the Punjab, where they had settled earlier.
According to "Mohd Ashraf Ganie and Arif Habib et al", Gurjars migrated to the region in the 9th to 10th century. Earlier Gurjar settlements excited in the western Indian plains, such as Gujarat, Kathiawar, and Jodhpur where some of Gurjars were even in power.
Gujjars in the districts of Poonch, Udhampur, Reasi, Jammu, Rajouri, and Kathua districts claimed their ancestry from the Gujarat district of Punjab, Pakistan. In Kashmir Valley, Gurjars claimed their ancestors moved there - some claimed it was in the 16th century, while others said it was between 1127 - 1154 AD, during Raja Bajay Singh's rule near Pir Panjal Range.Gujjars of Jammu and Kashmir by K. Warikoo 2000 p. 179
According to Surjit Singh Sooden and Aparna Rao, Gurjars in Kashmir migrated from Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (N.W.F.P) present-day provinces of Pakistan. They were inhabited Kashmir region even before the arrival of Mughals in Indian subcontinent.
According to Kulbhushan Warikoo, the Gurjars of Swat and Mardan districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as well as those in Kashmir region and eastern Afghanistan, claim that they are originated from the larger region of Punjab.
History In the medieval era, Gujjars in Kashmir faced attacks from the armies of Mahmud of Ghazni, Mughals, and Sikhs when they attacked Kashmir.
The 10th century Chamba copper plate inscriptions contain the first recorded mention of the Gurjars in the Kashmir region. The Gurjars along with the Durgara tribe, entered the Jammu region of Kashmir during the dominance of "Gurjaras" in the Punjab region. The Durgaras are first mentioned in the Chamba copper plate inscriptions, which refer to events from the early part of the 10th century in which one 'Durgaresvara', the lord of the Durgara tribe, was mentioned.
In 10th century Tunga Gurjar (or Rai Tunga) of Buddivasa was ethnically a Gurjar who played and important role in politics of Jammu and Kashmir during the rule of Queen Didda of Utpala dynasty from 958 to 1003 C.E. Tunga joined Didda's court as a letter-carrier, also known as 'Lekhaharakara'. He gained the full trust of Dibba and was promoted to the position responsible for foreign affairs in the administration of Kashmir. When Dibba ruled as an independent queen, she appointed Tunga as Prime minister, or Sanadhikarin, and played him above all other officials. Later, because of his skill as well as his judgement and character, he became the main center of power in the Kashmir court. He captured Rajouri for queen Didda. In 1014 C.E, he defended his country near the Toshi river, at poonch against the attack of Mahmud of Ghazni.
In the 12th century, Kalhana's Rajatarangini mentioned that Gurjars ruled over the Kashmir valley and the surrounding areas.
Gurjars are believed to have been residents of the Kashmir region long before the arrival of Mughals in Kashmir. The Mughal emperor Babar encountered them in Sialkot, a district currently in Punjab, Pakistan, which borders Jammu and Kashmir, indicating their established presence in the surrounding area.
Dr. Dharamvir Bharati, a known Hindi writer, wrote a travel book about Kashmir called "Ek Yaad Ek Prarihana". He describes his personal experiences in Kashmir region, including the mountains, Gujjar community, Gurez Valley, Kashmir Valley, Krishna Ganga Jungles and other tribes of Kashmir.
Dinoo Bhai Pant, a 20th-century Dogri poet described the Gujari women of Kashmir in a poem named "Gujari (A Gujjar belle)" as:
Dynasties/states Sangu dynasty In the 18th century a Gujjar of Sangu clan Rooh Ullah Khan established Sangu dynasty or state in Poonch region of Kashmir. During the reign of Raja Bahadur Khan, Ruhullah rose to such prominence that he was appointed the post of Wazir. In 1797, Abdullah Khan, the Nazim of Kashmir, attacked Poonch and appointed Wazir Ruhullah Khan as its ruler in 1798.
In June 1814 Ranjit Singh's army attacked Poonch and Rajauri. Ruhulla Khan, Poonch's ruler blocked their way. A fight broke out, and around 500 people were wounded or killed on both sides. In this battle Ruhulla Khan convincingly defeated Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Aghar Khan helped Ruhullah by spreading rumors the Sikhs were losing, which led locals attack the Sikhs and steal their supplies. After this the two local leaders started attacking the Sikhs with their armies. Ruhullah Khan died in 1819 and was succeeded by his grandson Mir Baz Khan.
Chiefs of Poonch region In the 17th century Abdur Razzak Khan was a Gujjar chief of the Poonch region of Kashmir. He was the son of Abdul Fateh Khan Zamindar of Poonch. In the early 18th century Muslim Gujjars with Bomba and Khakha tribes from the lower Jehlum Valley, would often attack Kashmir. They would raid the valley when the central government of the Mughal Empire was weak, killing and looting. These attacks terrified the people of Kashmir and the tribes names became synonymous with terror. During Ali Muhammad Khan's rule (1713–15), the Bomba chief with Gujjar chief Abdur Razzak of Poonch region started causing trouble in Karna and Baramulla areas. Ali Muhammad Khan stopped this trouble arrested Gujjar chief and Haibat Khan grandson of Bomba Chief. In 1732 during rule of Abu Barakat Khan again and Haibat Khan raided but Abu Khan personally stopped him.
In the past, Ianayat Ullah Khan, a Mughal noble, lost control of Kashmir to Abu Barakat Khan. Abu Barakat declared himself independent established his power in Kashmir, but Inayat Ullah Khan and his son gathered a force and defeated him. Then Abu Barakat sought refuge with the Gujjar ruler of Poonch region, who took him in and helped him attack Inayat Ullah Khan. Inayat Ullah Khan teamed up with local tribes (Bomba and Khakha) to fight back, but Abu Barakat Khan got help mainly from Gujjars in Poonch and defeated him, killing Inayat Ullah Khan. Later in the 1740s, Babar Ullah Khan, a district commissioner, wanted independence and hot support from Gujjars, Bomba and Khakha tribes to rebel against Abu Barakat Khan. The violence stopped when a new governor, Abu Mansur Khan took over in 1745. But the Gujjars, Bomba and Khakha tribes kept causing trouble until 1846, when Maharaja Ghulab Singh and British army stopped them.
The political situation during Hari Singh's poor rule became worse. People began grouping together on the basis of religion, and Hindus and Muslims formed their own groups. In 1932, during Srinagar riots and Glancy Commission hearings, violence against Gurjars was also reported. One member of the Dodhi Gujar community was killed by Hindus. According to eyewitnesses, three other Muslim Gurjars were also dragged to a Hindu temple and killed by Hindu mob.
Most of farmers in Tangir district were not local residents. The leaseholders were usually immigrants from the Valleys of Kohistan region, particularly Gurjars. The Gurjars are believed to have originally come from the border areas of Punjab. In the Khabari Valley of Diamer District, all farmers are dakans. The entire population of the valley lives in large, open settlements and consists entirely of Gurjars. The Gurjars farm land here that belongs to villagers from Darel District. Many of them speak their Gujari language.
In 1922, Gurjars from the Naltar valley migrated to Gilgit District and founded a village named Gujjar Das, now known as Sultanabad. Later in 1932, other people from Gilgit area purchased land there. Initially it was a Gurjar village. Today, Gujjars makes up about 30% of the village's total population.
Post colonial period Zuni Gujjari a Muslim Gurjar woman was a key figure in Kashmir's nationalist movement. She showed bravery and leadership in the Women's Self Defense Corps (WSDC), a women's group formed in 1947 to protect Kashmir from attackers. Zuni was born around 1912 into a poor Gurjar family, and she started fighting against the Maharaja Hari Singh's unfair rule, which led to her being jailed several times. She became a symbol of resistance and was featured in posters, photos, and pamphlets, inspiring many Kashmiri women to join the fight for freedom and justice. Zuni's story highlights the important role women played in shaping Kashmir's history.
After British rule ended in 1947, the lambardar system for Gurjars and Bakarwals changed. Lambardar were no longer elected and they stopped getting salaries. However, their families still kept their social and economic influence. In short, power and wealth continued to matter the most.